Not every experiment in computer science has known results.
In the seventies Douglass Lenat programmed a computer with basic mathematical rules and heuristics, then he ran it without giving it input (other than random numbers and the code). When it started he made guesses at what it was going to figure out and not figure out, but in the end he was wrong about many things. Although it didn't do anything amazing, like discover theorms that had never been discovered, it was able to teach itself eighth grade math.
It's called the Automated Mathematician.
The Wikipedia article is very brief, I read about it when I was working on my thesis, I wish I could remember the book it was from.
Two years ago I was at an IDSA student conference in Boston with my classmates. The building they held the conference in was about 15 stories tall, and there was a lightboard on one of the walls that said which floor each elevator was on. We tracked down two walkie-talkies and did this basic premise. One person would get on the elevators and have a 30 second head start, one person would then follow with a walkie talkie, and a third person would stand at the lightboard with the other walkie talkie, trying to lead the chaser to the runner.
We had to make additional rules to make it possible in a reasonable amount of time, you couldn't send the elevator to a floor without actually being on it, or get on the same elevator twice in a row. We also made the floor with the conference on it off-limits.
If you ever get a chance to play a game like this I highly reccomend it, especially if it's inappropriate for the situation.
I actually have mod points, so I was looking for a comment with a good use, but I'm posting instead.
eBook readers is an obvious use, but not just books, you could get slashdot on one of these and read it on the subway.
All computer screens will definately use this once it's cheap enough, it has the potential to look a lot better than LCD screens do and uses less power.
classrooms/presentations if it's big
television
Car companies are probably going to use this to make customizable dashboards.
It's a matter of ergonomics. I'm as geeky as the next slashdotter and I love my one button mouse because when I click I click on the right side of the mouse. Next time you see someone using an Apple mouse watch them click.
If you want to make your two button mouse more ergonomic switch the buttons. It takes a couple days to get used to, but it's a lot more comfortable. It's also funny to watch someone else use your computer, it's impossible for them to figure out what's wrong.
Download the high-res Lotus Leaves and take a look at the edges of those ink blots. No *way* that real ink would leave so clear and crisp an edge on absorbant, realistic paper as you can see there.
Although some anti-aliasing would be in order, you'd be surprized how crisp edges are on any wet medium. In fact, often the pigment is drawn to the edges of the blots, creating a dark outline. In college I had to draw with markers (before 3D rendering you would marker render), any time you used the clear blender you'd pretty much have to go over the whole thing to aviod making a line in your object.
The part where it falls short is overlapping, the ink should blend with the ink that's already on the paper instead of falling over it.
Apple was so enamored with absolute pure, minimalist design that some designers may argue that ergonomics were compromised.
This is why designers shouldn't be allowed to talk.
Ergonomic means human-friendly, not just in form but also in function. Check out the Wikipedia entry for ergonomics. Very little of it is about form, the rest makes the iPod seem very ergonomic.
Whats more ergonomic, something with a very clean interface or something with a cluttered interface that takes 10 clicks to switch to the next song?
Size is another big factor. Last I checked other players were much thicker than the iPod (every.1" counts in thickness), and having it fit in your pocket nicely is an important part of the ergonomics of an mp3 player
The use of debit cards at cash registers is an example of the credit card companies exploiting a monopoly on money. They charge the store something like $2 more to have the customer enter their pin rather than sign their name. Always sign your name instead of entering your pin to be fair to the store. The credit card companies also designed the interface of most of the POS card swipe machines so that debit is the default.
One of my professors designed early ATMs. After talking to him about the design of ATMs, it seems to me that early ATMs are more secure than new ones.
Old ATMs would eat your card if you got your number wrong X number of times. While this keeps people from guessing your number, the ATM has to keep your card until the end of the transaction (really just until you enter your PIN, I don't know why they didn't give it back then), we all know how easy it is to leave a card in an ATM.
Today I'm more worried about someone using my lost card as a credit card.
The real reason is in the parent message, but everyone on Linux and Windows try this experiment: switch your mouse buttons by making it left handed, but don't move your mouse to the other side of the keyboard. You have to do it for an hour or two to get used to it.
The right mouse button is more comfortable to hit because that's where your fingers naturally fall.If you have an overdesigned 104 button mouse this might not work, but everyone using a normal mouse, give it a shot, it will be good for your hands.
Ergonomics is the real reason Apple doesn't offer a two button mouse. The next time you see someone using a single button mouse watch them click - on the right side of the mouse.
Ergonomics isn't about making a sleek form that looks great and feel comfortable, it's about making a mouse that can be used in many different ways. I've used two button mice on my Mac, but I actually prefer the Apple mouse because I can push anywhere to click, I don't have to keep my pointer finger in a specific place. Keeping your hand in a single position for an extended period of time is what causes hand and wrist problems, Apple reduced that by letting you use the mouse in many ways.
I challenge anyone (that uses a Mac) to use a one button mouse for a week, you'll start to enjoy it. It's just more comfortable to use.
I seem to remember an Apple CEO saying that the way to network Macs and PCs is with a floppy disk, much like the memory card for the phone. This was right before Apple almost went out of business. Verizon doesn't have a Jobs brand defribulator.
Slashdot Mirror
In the seventies Douglass Lenat programmed a computer with basic mathematical rules and heuristics, then he ran it without giving it input (other than random numbers and the code). When it started he made guesses at what it was going to figure out and not figure out, but in the end he was wrong about many things. Although it didn't do anything amazing, like discover theorms that had never been discovered, it was able to teach itself eighth grade math. It's called the Automated Mathematician. The Wikipedia article is very brief, I read about it when I was working on my thesis, I wish I could remember the book it was from.
Thats why it worked so well, the building was empty except for the conference, which was taking place on only two floors.
Two years ago I was at an IDSA student conference in Boston with my classmates. The building they held the conference in was about 15 stories tall, and there was a lightboard on one of the walls that said which floor each elevator was on. We tracked down two walkie-talkies and did this basic premise. One person would get on the elevators and have a 30 second head start, one person would then follow with a walkie talkie, and a third person would stand at the lightboard with the other walkie talkie, trying to lead the chaser to the runner.
We had to make additional rules to make it possible in a reasonable amount of time, you couldn't send the elevator to a floor without actually being on it, or get on the same elevator twice in a row. We also made the floor with the conference on it off-limits.
If you ever get a chance to play a game like this I highly reccomend it, especially if it's inappropriate for the situation.
I actually have mod points, so I was looking for a comment with a good use, but I'm posting instead.
/..
eBook readers is an obvious use, but not just books, you could get slashdot on one of these and read it on the subway.
All computer screens will definately use this once it's cheap enough, it has the potential to look a lot better than LCD screens do and uses less power.
classrooms/presentations if it's big
television
Car companies are probably going to use this to make customizable dashboards.
This is bigger news than most of the stuff on
It's a matter of ergonomics. I'm as geeky as the next slashdotter and I love my one button mouse because when I click I click on the right side of the mouse. Next time you see someone using an Apple mouse watch them click.
If you want to make your two button mouse more ergonomic switch the buttons. It takes a couple days to get used to, but it's a lot more comfortable. It's also funny to watch someone else use your computer, it's impossible for them to figure out what's wrong.
Although some anti-aliasing would be in order, you'd be surprized how crisp edges are on any wet medium. In fact, often the pigment is drawn to the edges of the blots, creating a dark outline. In college I had to draw with markers (before 3D rendering you would marker render), any time you used the clear blender you'd pretty much have to go over the whole thing to aviod making a line in your object.
The part where it falls short is overlapping, the ink should blend with the ink that's already on the paper instead of falling over it.
This is why designers shouldn't be allowed to talk.
Ergonomic means human-friendly, not just in form but also in function.
Check out the Wikipedia entry for ergonomics. Very little of it is about form, the rest makes the iPod seem very ergonomic.
Whats more ergonomic, something with a very clean interface or something with a cluttered interface that takes 10 clicks to switch to the next song?
Size is another big factor. Last I checked other players were much thicker than the iPod (every .1" counts in thickness), and having it fit in your pocket nicely is an important part of the ergonomics of an mp3 player
There's nothing better than a flame getting modded higher than the original message.
It's called PBS.
The use of debit cards at cash registers is an example of the credit card companies exploiting a monopoly on money. They charge the store something like $2 more to have the customer enter their pin rather than sign their name. Always sign your name instead of entering your pin to be fair to the store. The credit card companies also designed the interface of most of the POS card swipe machines so that debit is the default.
Old ATMs would eat your card if you got your number wrong X number of times. While this keeps people from guessing your number, the ATM has to keep your card until the end of the transaction (really just until you enter your PIN, I don't know why they didn't give it back then), we all know how easy it is to leave a card in an ATM.
Today I'm more worried about someone using my lost card as a credit card.
The right mouse button is more comfortable to hit because that's where your fingers naturally fall.If you have an overdesigned 104 button mouse this might not work, but everyone using a normal mouse, give it a shot, it will be good for your hands.
Ergonomics isn't about making a sleek form that looks great and feel comfortable, it's about making a mouse that can be used in many different ways. I've used two button mice on my Mac, but I actually prefer the Apple mouse because I can push anywhere to click, I don't have to keep my pointer finger in a specific place. Keeping your hand in a single position for an extended period of time is what causes hand and wrist problems, Apple reduced that by letting you use the mouse in many ways.
I challenge anyone (that uses a Mac) to use a one button mouse for a week, you'll start to enjoy it. It's just more comfortable to use.
I seem to remember an Apple CEO saying that the way to network Macs and PCs is with a floppy disk, much like the memory card for the phone. This was right before Apple almost went out of business. Verizon doesn't have a Jobs brand defribulator.
Stu